Improperly secured fuel cap indication system

ABSTRACT

The Improperly Secured Fuel Cap Indication System works by having a mini limit switch(es) on the inside of the fuel tank opening. The switch will be pressing against the fuel cap in a strategic location(s) preferably near the locking mechanism(s) inside the tank opening. This will help protect it from the gas pump nozzle when filling up and ensure a proper seal of the cap. The mini switch will always be in the closed position and once the open position is engaged when the cap is removed, it will immediately activate the warning light and subsequent chimes inside the vehicle to alert the driver. The system is designed to prevent unnecessary and costly trips to the service bay saving the manufacturer and customer time and money.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Disclosure Document #584044 Aug. 11, 2005

Provisional Patent Application No. US 61/063,584

This invention is designed to alert the operator of a motorized vehiclethat he/she has failed to secure or properly secure the vehicle's fuelcap after refueling. The said invention will do so by having a minilimit switch(es) secured to the inside of the fuel tank opening duringmanufacturing. To eliminate the chance of a spark and a subsequentexplosion, all switches will be properly grounded to the chassis of thevehicle and/or have a protective non-conducting layer covering theswitch's wiring connections. This mini limit switch(es) will be securedbelow the threads and/or securing tabs in the tank opening where aproper secured fuel cap will then press against the switch(es) causingit to be in the closed position.

When the fuel cap is not present or properly positioned, the switch(es)will be in the open position thus setting off an indicator light andsubsequent chime in the dash/instrument panel of the vehicle to alertthe driver/operator to correct the positioning of the fuel cap. Theinvention should be activated as soon as the key is turned giving powerto all other electrical/electronic components within the vehicle withoutthe need for the engine to be running. This will ensure thedriver/operator is given prompt notification and can correct thepositioning of the fuel cap before he/she is operating the vehicle intraffic.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

N/A

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

N/A

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is geared toward the automotive industry. All vehicleshave a fuel cap and the operator/driver can easily forget to secure itafter refueling. The current systems are pressure activated and can takea few moments to alert the driver/operator that he/she has improperlysecured the fuel cap. By this time, the operator/driver can already bein traffic and may be unable to pull over and properly secure the fuelcap.

In some vehicles a “Check Engine” light will appear on thedash/instrument panel. The indicator light usually gets theoperator/driver to go to a service station and pay up to $80 or more fora diagnostics test on the vehicle only to find they have improperlysecured the fuel cap.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention will prevent an operator/driver of a motorized vehiclefrom having to pull over in traffic to secure their fuel cap if in theevent it has been improperly secured. It will also prevent the “CheckEngine” indicator from activating for this cause and a subsequentdiagnostics fee at the service bay. The results are instantaneous andcan alert the operator/driver as soon as the key is turned giving powerto all electrical and electronic devices in the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

There are two drawings of the invention. The first is a schematicdrawing labeled FIG. 1 that shows how the system will work. Theinvention is powered by the car battery (1A) at 12 Volts and is groundedthroughout the circuit by the vehicle's chassis (1B). The current runsto an Inverter (1C) that will reverse the signal causing chimes (1F) andlight (1E) to be activated when the switch (1D) is open rather thanclosed.

The second diagram FIG. 2 is a cut away of a fuel tank opening to showhow the invention can be installed into a vehicle. The fuel tank opening(2A) is used for refueling the vehicle. The cap is then placed in theopening and is either screwed into and/or placed inside and locked intoplace by the opening's securing tab (2B) and the cap's securing tabsresting below the opening's tabs. The invention is placed directly belowthe fuel tank's securing tabs where the fuel cap's securing tabs meet(2C). This ensures a properly secured fit by having the cap's securingtabs resting against the mini limit switch (2C).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is quite easy to assemble and can be done with alreadyexisting materials and applications. This is designed to be costeffective and efficient. The parts are relatively inexpensive.

To assemble the invention, simply bore a small hole underneath thesecuring tab and threads (if any) in the fuel tank opening of acompletely empty fuel tank and secure the switch(es) and seal them witha liquid impermeable substance like silicone, rubber or plastic toprevent any moisture from corroding the switch housing or vapors fromescaping the fuel tank. Ground the switch to the chassis of the vehicleand run the wiring to the instrument cluster in the vehicle as per theschematic diagram (FIG. 1) and placed accordingly as depicted in FIG. 2.

1. The invention will eliminate the problematic improperly secured fuelcap when it is either left off the opening of the fuel tank orimproperly secured. The invention will alert the driver/operatorinstantaneously when the cap is not properly secured. The invention willsave the driver/operator time and money from having the vehicle checkedout by a mechanic when the “Check Engine” light/indicator that currentlyis activated over time by the problem. It will also save themanufacturer time and money by eliminating unnecessary service calls atthe dealerships by the current systems thus leaving the “Check Engine”light/indicator for what it is designed for, the engine.